TGPSC Group-I Prelims 2003

156 questions from the 2003 papers, each with the official answer and an explanation.

A question repeated across years is listed once, under one of the years it appeared.

1. Q1Vedic Age and the Mahajanapadas

   In which of the following great texts is Purusha Suktam found?

   • aRigvedaAnswer
   • bManusmriti
   • cMahabharata
   • dTirukkural
   ›Explanation

   Option A is correct because the Purusha Suktam is found in the 10th Mandala (Sukta 90) of the Rigveda, famous for detailing the cosmic sacrifice of Purusha and the earliest reference to the four varnas. Option B: Manusmriti is a post-Vedic legal and ethical text (Dharmashastra), not the source of this Rigvedic hymn. Option C: Mahabharata is an ancient Sanskrit epic composed by Vyasa, not the core Vedic Samhita containing the Purusha Suktam. Option D: Tirukkural is a classic Tamil didactic work composed by Thiruvalluvar.

2. Q2Vedic Age and the Mahajanapadas

   Which of the following clans the first rulers of Jains are belived?

   • aSatavahana clan
   • bKakatiya clanAnswer
   • cThe Gupta clan
   • dReddy clan

   Official answer shown. The explanation is under review.

3. Q3Post-Mauryan India and the foreign invasions

   Who is the author of the book Buddhacharita?

   • aVishakhadatta
   • bBanabhatta
   • cAshvaghoshaAnswer
   • dSri Harsha
   ›Explanation

   Option C is correct because Ashvaghosha, an eminent Buddhist philosopher and poet in the court of Kanishka, wrote Buddhacharita, the celebrated Sanskrit epic narrating the life of Gautama Buddha. Option A: Vishakhadatta authored historical Sanskrit plays such as Mudrarakshasa and Devichandraguptam. Option B: Banabhatta was the court poet of Harshavardhana and authored Harshacharita and Kadambari. Option D: Sri Harsha was a twelfth-century philosopher-poet who composed Naishadha Charita.

4. Q4Post-Mauryan India and the foreign invasions

   From where did 'Sangam' literature derive its name?

   • aBuddhist Sangha
   • bA group of poetsAnswer
   • cSangama dynasty
   • dA professional trade association
   ›Explanation

   Option B is correct because the word Sangam is derived from the Sanskrit word Sangha, referring here to the assembly or academy of Tamil poets and scholars that gathered under the patronage of the Pandya kings in Madurai. Option A: Buddhist Sangha was the monastic order established by the Buddha, whereas the Sangam literature emerged from Tamil poetic assemblies. Option C: Sangama dynasty was the initial ruling line of the Vijayanagara Empire founded in the fourteenth century, long after the Sangam period. Option D: A professional trade association was known as a sreni, nigama, or manigramam, which is distinct from a literary academy.

5. Q5Gupta and post-Gupta India

   Which of the following are wrongly paired?

   • aBrhatkatha – Gunadhya
   • bGathasaptasati – Hala
   • charsacharitha – HarshavardhanuduAnswer
   • dMallana – Rajasekher Charita
   ›Explanation

   Option C is correct because Harshacharita was written by the court poet Banabhatta, not by King Harshavardhana himself. Option A: Gunadhya composed the Brihatkatha in the Paisachi language. Option B: Satavahana King Hala compiled the Prakrit poetic anthology Gathasaptashati. Option D: Madayyagari Mallana authored Rajashekhara Charitra in Telugu.

6. Q6Gupta and post-Gupta India

   Who were the patrons of the temples of Khajuraho?

   • aGujara Pratiharas
   • bChandelasAnswer
   • cParamars
   • dChalukyas
   ›Explanation

   Option B is correct because the temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh were patronised and constructed between the 10th and 11th centuries CE by rulers of the Chandela dynasty. Option A: Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled northern India earlier from Kannauj and were not the patrons of the Khajuraho complex. Option C: Paramaras ruled the Malwa region and were patrons of sites like Bhojpur, not Khajuraho. Option D: Chalukyas ruled primarily in the Deccan and western India, not the Bundelkhand region.

7. Q7Gupta and post-Gupta India

   Who were the patrons of the Khajuraho temples?

   • aGurjara Pratiharas
   • bChandela dynastyAnswer
   • cParamaras
   • dChalukyas
   ›Explanation

   Option B is correct because the Khajuraho temple complex in Bundelkhand was constructed between 950 and 1050 CE under the royal patronage of the Chandela dynasty. Option A: The Gurjara Pratiharas built temple groups in northern India, such as at Bateshwar and Osian, not Khajuraho. Option C: The Paramaras ruled Malwa and patronised temples like the Udayeshvara temple at Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh. Option D: The Chalukyas built rock-cut and structural temples primarily across the Deccan and Gujarat, not in Bundelkhand.

8. Q8Early medieval South Indian dynasties

   Which of the following cities was founded by the Eastern Chalukyas ?

   • aAmaravati
   • bRajahmundryAnswer
   • cWarangal
   • dDhanya Katakam
   ›Explanation

   Option B is correct because Rajahmundry, originally known as Rajamahendravaram, was established as a prominent political and cultural capital by the Eastern Chalukyas. Option A: Amaravati served as an ancient Buddhist centre and regional seat long before the Eastern Chalukyas under the Satavahanas. Option C: Warangal, originally Orugallu, was developed and fortified by the Kakatiya dynasty, not the Eastern Chalukyas. Option D: Dhanya Katakam, also known as Dharanikota, was an ancient administrative hub and capital of the Satavahana rulers.

9. Q9Early medieval South Indian dynasties

   Who of the following Kings bore the title Mahamandaleswara?

   • aThe Satavahana Kings
   • bThe Chalukya Kings
   • cThe Rastrakuta kings
   • dThe Kakatiya KingsAnswer
   ›Explanation

   Option D is correct because early Kakatiya rulers like Beta I, Prola I, Beta II, and Prola II served as feudatories under the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani and governed the Anumakonda region with the subordinate title Mahamandaleswara. Option A: Satavahana rulers were sovereign sovereigns from their inception and used imperial titles such as Dakshinapathapati and Rajan. Option B: Imperial Chalukya monarchs assumed sovereign titles such as Maharajadhiraja, Parameshwara, and Satyashraya. Option C: Sovereign Rashtrakuta emperors bore imperial titles like Paramabhattaraka and Maharajadhiraja rather than subordinate feudatory titles.

10. Q10Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    Who ot the following Kakatiya kings is reputed to have ruled over the whole of Andhradesa extending for Ganjam in the north to Kanjeevaram in the south, embracing all the present Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions?

    • aPrataparudra-I
    • bPrataparudra-II
    • cBetaraju -I
    • dGanapatidevaAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Ganapatideva brought virtually the entire Telugu-speaking land under Kakatiya hegemony, unifying coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Telangana into a single empire. Option A: Prataparudra-I expanded the kingdom significantly but his conquests did not extend south to Kanjeevaram. Option B: Prataparudra-II inherited this unified empire and focused on defending it against Delhi Sultanate invasions. Option C: Betaraju-I was an early feudatory ruler whose influence was restricted to the region around Hanumakonda.

11. Q11Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    According to which inscription the first Beta king was the first Kakatiya king ?

    • aJunagadh Inscription
    • bGhantasala Inscription
    • cKazipet InscriptionAnswer
    • dAmaravati inscription
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because the Kazipet (or Kazipet Dargah) inscription of Durgaraja establishes Beta I (Beta Raja I) as the first ruler and founder of the Kakatiya lineage. Option A: The Junagadh Inscription is associated with the Mauryas and Rudradaman I in Gujarat. Option B: The Ghantasala Inscription pertains to Buddhist and maritime trade records in coastal Andhra. Option D: The Amaravati inscriptions relate to Buddhist records and Satavahana or local dynastic grants.

12. Q12Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    In which of the following texts the description of the city of Warangallu is described in detail?

    • aCharitra Rajasekhara
    • bKalapurnodayam
    • cKridabbi RamamAnswer
    • dNilambari
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because the Telugu literary work 'Kridabhiramam', written by Vinukonda Vallabharaya (attributed also to Srinatha), offers a rich and vivid description of the layout, people, and urban life of the Kakatiya capital Orugallu (Warangallu). Option A: Charitra Rajasekhara does not focus on a detailed contemporary description of Warangallu. Option B: Kalapurnodayam is an imaginative poetical romance written by Pingali Surana in the 16th century. Option D: Nilambari is a musical raga or unrelated title with no connection to medieval Telugu city descriptions.

13. Q13Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    Who among the following laid the foundation of swayambhu temple in warangallu fort?

    • aProlaraja-IIAnswer
    • bPrataparudra-I
    • cRudramadevi
    • dGanapathi Deva
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because Prolaraja II initiated the construction of the Swayambhudeva temple at the Warangal fort after discovering the self-manifested linga, marking the religious beginnings of the site that later became the capital. Option B: Prataparudra I built the Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanumakonda and commenced the stone fortification of Warangal, but did not lay the foundation of the Swayambhu shrine. Option C: Rudramadevi reigned much later, fortifying the city with an outer mud wall and moats rather than founding the core shrine. Option D: Ganapathi Deva completed the inner stone wall and expanded the temple complex after shifting the capital, but he was not its original founder.

14. Q14Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    According to which of the following was 'Veena' the founder of the Kakatiya family?

    • aKazipet Inscription
    • bJunagarh Inscription
    • cBayyaram EpigraphAnswer
    • dVijayawada Inscription
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because the Bayyaram tank epigraph, inscribed by Ganapatideva sister Mailama, records the legendary and early ancestral lineage of the Kakatiyas, identifying Venna as the originator of the royal house. Option A: The Kazipet inscription of Beta II traces the family descent from Beta I and makes no reference to Venna as the founder. Option B: The Junagarh inscription is a Western Kshatrapa and Gupta period record from Gujarat with no connection to Kakatiya origins. Option D: The Vijayawada epigraph focuses on the coastal conquests and religious benefactions of Ganapatideva rather than ancestral origins.

15. Q15Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    During whose reign in Andhra Desa, were the gold coins known as 'Mada'?

    • aThe Satavahanas
    • bThe Kakatiyas
    • cThe Vijayanagara rulersAnswer
    • dThe Chalukyas

    Official answer shown. The explanation is under review.

16. Q16Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    Who among the following Kakatiya kings ruled the entire Andhra region, including the Andhra, Telangana, and Rayalaseema regions of present-day Andhra Pradesh, from Ganjam in the north to Kanchivaram in the south, under a single umbrella?

    • aPrataparudra I
    • bPrataparudra II
    • cBeta Raja I
    • dGanapati DevaAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Ganapati Deva brought almost the entire Telugu-speaking land under a single rule during his prolonged reign from 1199 to 1262 CE, extending his dominion from southern Odisha down to Kanchipuram. Option A: Prataparudra I (Rudradeva) expanded the realm across coastal Andhra and parts of Telangana, but did not reach Kanchipuram or cover Rayalaseema. Option B: Prataparudra II inherited this vast realm but spent much of his reign defending it against repetitive Delhi Sultanate invasions. Option C: Beta Raja I was an early subordinate chieftain under the Western Chalukyas with limited local territory around Koravi and Hanumakonda.

17. Q17Early medieval South Indian dynasties

    Who among the following poet's graced the royal court of Pedakomati Vemareddy?

    • aBammera Pothanamatya
    • bSrinatha SarvabhaumaduAnswer
    • cTikkana Somayaji
    • dVemulawada Bhimakavi
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Kavi Sarvabhauma Srinatha served as the Vidyadhikari (minister of education) in the royal court of Pedakomati Vema Reddy of the Kondaveeti Reddy dynasty. Option A: Bammera Pothana was an independent devotee-poet who refused royal patronage and dedicated his Bhagavatam to Lord Rama. Option C: Tikkana Somayaji lived earlier in the 13th century and was patronized by King Manumasiddhi II of Nellore. Option D: Vemulawada Bhimakavi was an early medieval poet associated with the Eastern Chalukyas, not the Kondaveeti Reddys.

18. Q18The Delhi Sultanate

    Which of the following statements about Muhammad bin Tughlaq is not true?

    • aHe murdered his father Ghiyasuddin
    • bHis real name was Jauna Khan
    • cHe ascended the throne in AD 1300Answer
    • dAfter occupying Warangal in AD 1323, he named it Sultanpur
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because Muhammad bin Tughlaq ascended the throne in 1325 AD, not 1300 AD. Foundation of the Tughlaq dynasty by Ghiyasuddin: 1320 AD Conquest and renaming of Warangal: 1323 AD Accession of Muhammad bin Tughlaq: 1325 AD Option A: Several contemporary accounts including that of Ibn Battuta record that he was responsible for the collapse of the pavilion that killed Ghiyasuddin. Option B: Jauna Khan, or Fakhruddin Jauna, was indeed his personal name prior to taking the regnal title. Option D: The Kakatiya capital of Warangal was captured under his leadership in 1323 AD and officially renamed Sultanpur.

19. Q19Vijayanagara and the Deccan Sultanates

    Whose empire was ruled by the vassals known as ' Nayakas ' The reign of ?

    • aKakatiyasAnswer
    • bPallavas
    • cYadavas
    • dSatavahanas
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because the Kakatiya rulers developed and institutionalised the Nayamkara system, under which the kingdom was divided among military chieftains called Nayakas who maintained troops for the sovereign. Option B: Pallava administration was structured around traditional divisions like Rashtras and Nadus governed by royal officers rather than the Kakatiya Nayaka system. Option C: Yadavas of Devagiri operated under a conventional feudal framework and did not pioneer this specific Nayaka system. Option D: Satavahana administration relied on functionaries like Maharathis and Mahabhojas rather than Nayakas.

20. Q20Vijayanagara and the Deccan Sultanates

    Which of the following was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah?

    • aGolconda
    • bHyderabad city
    • cCharminarAnswer
    • dJama Masjid
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah commissioned and constructed the iconic Charminar in 1591 to commemorate the founding of Hyderabad and the eradication of a deadly plague. Option A: The mud fortress of Golconda was originally built by the Kakatiyas and later expanded in stone by Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, not Muhammad Quli. Option B: Although Muhammad Quli founded the city of Hyderabad, Charminar is specifically cited as the credited architectural monument. Option D: The historic Jama Masjid inside Golconda fort was built by Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1569.

21. Q21Advent of the Europeans and the struggle for supremacy

    Which of the following places was a Dutch colonial settlement?

    • aYanam
    • bMahe
    • cKaraikal
    • dBhimiliAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Bhimili (Bheemunipatnam), located on the coast of Andhra Pradesh, was an established Dutch colonial settlement and trading post dating back to the seventeenth century. Option A: Yanam was a French colonial enclave located along the Godavari river. Option B: Mahe was a French settlement situated on the Malabar coast of Kerala. Option C: Karaikal was a French territorial possession situated on the Coromandel coast.

22. Q22British rule: administration, economy and society

    In which book did Dadabhai Naoroji propose his 'Drain of Wealth' theory?

    • aEconomic Problems in India
    • bEconomic History
    • cBritish Rule and Its Consequences
    • dPoverty and Un-British Rule in IndiaAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Dadabhai Naoroji formulated and published his comprehensive Drain of Wealth analysis in his landmark work Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, which was published in 1901. Option A: It is not a work authored by Dadabhai Naoroji. Option B: It refers broadly to the subject or to Romesh Chunder Dutt's The Economic History of India rather than Naoroji's treatise. Option C: It is an invented title and not the book authored by Dadabhai Naoroji.

23. Q23British rule: administration, economy and society

    Who was the founder of the Asiatic Society of Bengal?

    • aSir William JonesAnswer
    • bFriedrich Max
    • cSurendranath Banerjee
    • dIshwar Chandra Vidyasagar
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because Sir William Jones, a British philologist and jurist, founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta in 1784 to encourage Oriental research. Option B: Friedrich Max Muller was a German philologist who translated the Rigveda but was never associated with founding the Asiatic Society. Option C: Surendranath Banerjee was a 19th-century political leader who co-founded the Indian National Association, not the Asiatic Society. Option D: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a social reformer and educator noted for his work on widow remarriage, not the founder of the Asiatic Society.

24. Q24The Indian National Movement

    Where was the Quit India Resolution passed on August 8, 1942?

    • aIn BombayAnswer
    • bIn Lucknow
    • cIn Lahore
    • dIn Karachi
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because the All India Congress Committee officially ratified the Quit India Resolution at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on August 8, 1942. Option B: Lucknow was not the meeting place of the All India Congress Committee in August 1942. Option C: Lahore hosted the 1929 Congress session and the 1940 Muslim League session, not the Quit India meeting. Option D: Karachi was the host city for the 1931 Congress session and had no role in passing the 1942 resolution.

25. Q25The Indian National Movement

    How many times was Gandhiji the president of the Indian National Congress?

    • aThree times
    • bOnly onceAnswer
    • cFive times
    • dNever
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Mahatma Gandhi presided over the annual session of the Indian National Congress only once, at the Belgaum session in December 1924. Option A: Gandhi never presided over the Congress three times. Option C: Five sessions were never presided over by Gandhi. Option D: Gandhi did preside over the session held in Belgaum in 1924, making it incorrect to say he never did.

26. Q26The Indian National Movement

    Arrange the following in chronological order: i. Dandi March ii. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre iii. Quit India Movement iv. Swadeshi Movement

    • aii, iv, i, iii
    • biv, ii, i, iiiAnswer
    • cii, i, iv, iii
    • div, ii, iii, i
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because placing these landmark events in their chronological order from earliest to latest yields the sequence iv, ii, i, iii. iv. Swadeshi Movement: 1905 ii. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: 1919 i. Dandi March: 1930 iii. Quit India Movement: 1942 Option A: Places the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 before the Swadeshi Movement of 1905. Option C: Omits the Swadeshi Movement from the first position despite it occurring in 1905. Option D: Inverts the sequence by placing the 1942 Quit India Movement before the 1930 Dandi March.

27. Q27The Indian National Movement

    Who among the following were the Indian National Army officers tried by the military court in the Red Fort on charges of treason during the Indian independence movement?

    • aRash Behari Bose and Captain Mohan Singh
    • bCaptain Mohan Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose
    • cShah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon and Prem SehgalAnswer
    • dG.S. Dhillon, Rash Behari Bose and Captain Mohan Singh
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because the first and most widely publicized INA court-martial held at the Red Fort in November 1945 jointly prosecuted Shah Nawaz Khan, G.S. Dhillon, and Prem Kumar Sehgal for treason, murder, and waging war against the King-Emperor. Option A: Rash Behari Bose died of illness in Japan in January 1945, and Mohan Singh was not among the officers tried in this joint Red Fort proceeding. Option B: Subhash Chandra Bose died in an air crash in August 1945 prior to the start of the Red Fort trials. Option D: Rash Behari Bose had already passed away in Tokyo months before the military court convened.

28. Q28Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation

    When did Smt. Gandhi and G.V. Bhatta sign the Simla Agreement?

    • aJune 2, 1972
    • bJuly 2, 1972Answer
    • cJune 2, 1971
    • dJuly 2, 1971
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because the historic Simla Agreement was signed between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan's President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on July 2, 1972. Option A: June 2, 1972 is incorrect because the summit in Simla concluded and the pact was signed in early July 1972. Option C: June 2, 1971 is incorrect because the agreement was signed after the December 1971 Indo-Pak war, not before it. Option D: July 2, 1971 is incorrect because the agreement took place in 1972 following the liberation of Bangladesh.

29. Q29Telangana: the Nizam's state, the armed struggle and statehood

    Which dynasty was founded by Nizam-ul-Mulk ?

    • aAsafzahi clanAnswer
    • bQutub shahi clan
    • cTanisha clan
    • dNizam clan
    ›Explanation

    Option A is correct because Mir Qamar-ud-Din Khan Siddiqi, known as Nizam-ul-Mulk, established the Asaf Jahi dynasty in the Deccan in 1724. Option B: The Qutb Shahi dynasty was founded by Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk in Golconda in 1518. Option C: Tanisha was the popular moniker of Abul Hasan, the last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, not the founder of any dynasty. Option D: Nizam clan is an informal descriptive phrase rather than the dynastic designation, which is Asaf Jahi.

30. Q30Telangana: the Nizam's state, the armed struggle and statehood

    Before independence, in which of the following colleges in Hyderabad did Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu serve as principal?

    • aNizam College
    • bMahbub CollegeAnswer
    • cChaderghat College
    • dSaifabad College
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because the social reformer and educator Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu served as the principal of Mahbub College in Secunderabad from 1899 to 1904. Option A: Nizam College had prominent British educators like Dr. Aghorenath Chattopadhyaya and Brian Eyre as its early principals, not Venkataratnam Naidu. Option C: Chaderghat College was not headed by Venkataratnam Naidu during his stay in Hyderabad. Option D: Saifabad College was established much later and was not the institution where he served as principal.

31. Q31Telangana: the Nizam's state, the armed struggle and statehood

    When was the Hyderabad State established?

    • aAD 1715
    • bAD 1724Answer
    • cAD 1728
    • dAD 1735
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because the independent Hyderabad State was established in AD 1724 when Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan defeated the Mughal governor Mubariz Khan at the Battle of Shakar Kheda. Option A: AD 1715 is incorrect because Nizam-ul-Mulk was then a Mughal viceroy and had not established an independent kingdom. Option C: AD 1728 is incorrect because this was the year of the Battle of Palkhed fought against the Marathas. Option D: AD 1735 is incorrect because Hyderabad State had already been functioning autonomously for over a decade.

32. Q32Telugu language and literature, from the Kavitrayam to the moderns

    Kshetrayya, the poet of erotic verses, born and based at Movva in Krishna district, dedicated his verses to

    • aTirumala Nayaka of Maduri
    • bVijaya Raghava Nayaka of Tanjore
    • cAbdulla qutub Shah of Golconda
    • dAll the aboveAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Kshetrayya, the renowned composer of Telugu padams from Movva, visited and composed padams dedicated to the presiding deities in the royal courts of all three contemporary rulers: Tirumala Nayaka of Madurai, Vijaya Raghava Nayaka of Thanjavur, and Abdullah Qutb Shah of Golconda. Option A: Incomplete because it omits the courts of Tanjore and Golconda, where Kshetrayya also presented his compositions. Option B: Incomplete because it ignores the significant numbers of padams dedicated during his visits to Madurai and Golconda. Option C: Incomplete because Kshetrayya was equally patronized by the Nayaka kings of Madurai and Tanjore.

33. Q33Telugu language and literature, from the Kavitrayam to the moderns

    Which of the following written by Kancharla Gopanna?

    • aSumathi Shatakam
    • bBhaskara century
    • cDasharathi ShatakamAnswer
    • dVemana century
    ›Explanation

    Option C is correct because Dasharathi Shatakam, an acclaimed devotional work dedicated to Lord Rama of Bhadrachalam, was composed by Kancharla Gopanna, also known as Bhadrachala Ramadasu. Option A: Sumathi Shatakam was composed by Baddena, not Kancharla Gopanna. Option B: Bhaskara Shatakam was composed by Marana Venkayya and dedicated to Bhaskara. Option D: Vemana Shatakam consists of moral verses written by the mystic poet Vemana.

34. Q34Telugu language and literature, from the Kavitrayam to the moderns

    Who wrote the popular Telugu text 'Sumathi Shatakani' ?

    • aSiddappa
    • bBaddenaAnswer
    • cMallikarjuna Priest
    • dVidyanath
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Sumati Satakam, one of the most widely read moral anthologies in Telugu literature, was composed by the poet-king Baddena, also known as Bhadra Bhupala. Option A: Siddappa was a disciple of Veerabrahmendra Swamy and composed philosophical tatvalu, not this ethical shataka. Option C: Mallikarjuna Priest, or Mallikarjuna Panditaradhya, was a prominent Shaivite poet who composed Sivatattva Saramu. Option D: Vidyanatha was a 14th-century Sanskrit poet in the Kakatiya court who authored Prataparudra Yashobhushanam.

35. Q35Living traditions: temples, communities and social custom

    'Paika', a martial dance, is the dance form of which state?

    • aAssam
    • bHimachal Pradesh
    • cKerala
    • dOdishaAnswer
    ›Explanation

    Option D is correct because Paika is a traditional martial dance originally performed by the Paikas, the peasant-militia of ancient Odisha. Option A: Assam is renowned for dances like Bihu and Sattriya, not the Paika martial dance. Option B: Himachal Pradesh is known for folk dances such as Nati and Dangi. Option C: Kerala is famed for martial arts like Kalaripayattu and dance forms like Kathakali.

36. Q36Constitutional development and the making of the Constitution

    What is minimum duration of stay esential before a person can apply for citizenship in India?

    • a3 years
    • b5 yearsAnswer
    • c7 years
    • d10 years
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because under the standard statutory baseline historically tested in public service exams, a person was required to reside in India for a minimum period of 5 years before applying for citizenship by registration. Option A: 3 years is below any statutory period prescribed for registration or naturalisation under the Citizenship Act. Option C: 7 years reflects the post-2003 amendment requirement for registration under Section 5(1)(a), but is not the key credited in this standard syllabus question. Option D: 10 years does not correspond to the statutory residence requirement for registration.

37. Q37Constitutional development and the making of the Constitution

    To obtain citizenship in India, if one wants to apply, what is the minimum period one must reside in the country?

    • a3 years
    • b5 yearsAnswer
    • c7 years
    • d10 years

    Official answer shown. The explanation is under review.

38. Q38Constitutional development and the making of the Constitution

    India borrowed the idea of Directive Principles of State Policy from the Constituion of

    • aThe Weimar Republic of Germany
    • bThe Republic of IrelandAnswer
    • cSouth Africa
    • dNone of the above
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because Part IV of the Indian Constitution, which contains the Directive Principles of State Policy, was inspired by the Irish Constitution of 1937. Option A: The Weimar Republic of Germany was the source for the suspension of Fundamental Rights during an emergency. Option C: South Africa was the source for the procedure for constitutional amendments and election of Rajya Sabha members. Option D: None of the above is incorrect because the Republic of Ireland is the correct source.

39. Q39Constitutional development and the making of the Constitution

    Which of the following pairs of Union Territories have their own legislatures?

    • aChandigarh and Delhi
    • bPondicherry and DelhiAnswer
    • cDelhi and Daman & Diu
    • dPondicherry and Chandigarh
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because the Union Territories of Puducherry and Delhi have their own elected legislative assemblies and councils of ministers. Article 239A provides for the creation of a legislature for Puducherry Article 239AA creates a legislative assembly for the National Capital Territory of Delhi Option A: Chandigarh is governed directly by an Administrator without an elected legislature. Option C: Daman and Diu does not possess a legislative assembly and is centrally administered. Option D: Chandigarh lacks a legislature, making this combination incorrect.

40. Q40Fundamental Rights

    Which of the following writs literally means a 'command'?

    • aProhibition
    • bMandamusAnswer
    • cCertiorari
    • dQuo- warranto
    ›Explanation

    Option B is correct because the Latin term Mandamus literally translates to 'We Command', representing an order from a higher court directing a public authority to perform a mandatory duty. Option A: It translates literally to 'to forbid', functioning as an order to halt ongoing ultra vires proceedings. Option C: It translates literally to 'to be certified' or 'to be informed'. Option D: It translates literally to 'by what authority or warrant'.